Signal tab-removing device



April 10, 1951 H. A. LEVEE SIGNAL TAB-REMOVING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3, 1945 INVENTOR. HARRY AMI/E6.

flTTORNEX H. A. LEVEE SIGNAL TAB-REMOVING DEVICE April 10, 1951 Filed July 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 loz I00 INVENTOR. HARRY A. LEI 5E.

ATTORNEY April 51 H. A. LEVEE 2,548,484

SIGNAL TAB-REMOVING DEVICE Filed July 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. M l/6?) A. LEI E5 Aim ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,548,484 v SIGNAL TAB-REMOVING DEVICE Harry Levee, New York, N. Y. Application July 3, 1945, Serial No. 602,9 98 2 Claims. (01. 101-1i This invention relates to apparatus for removing tabs from addressing plates.

Such plates are provided with slots in which are inserted signal tabs of various kinds, each tab, depending on its position on the plate, its shape, and/or color, having a predetermined meaning. These tabs often become stuck to the plate so that it is difiicult to remove them. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide apparatus or a machine of the character described having improved means for easily removing all or some of the tabs from addressing plates.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine comprising a plurality of rollers, and means to insert the addressing plate into the machine in such position that the portions of'the tabs projecting from the plate are caught between the rollers which serve to pull the tabs out of the addressing plate, the machine being provided with means to retain the addressing plate against movement in predetermined position while the tabs are being removed therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a'machine of the character described, spring means to press the rollers together for firmly gripping the tabs, to facilitate removal of the latter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character described comprising a pair of rollers, one of the rollers consisting of annular knurled rings adjustable on the shaft for alignment with all or certain of the tabs on the addressing plate.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a neat, compact and durable machine of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, smooth and positive in operation, and yet practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

I The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a. machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the roller. assembly. I

Fig. 4 is an elevational crosssectional view of one of the roller bearings.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of an addressing plate with several tabs thereon.

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the addressing plate shown in Fig. 5. a

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of two tabs mounted on the addressing plate.

Fig. 8 is a partial top plan view of one of the guide bars adapted to receive an edge of the addressing plate.

Fig. 9 is a partial inner view illustrating a slot which receives one edge of the addressing plate.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the rollers and the supports therefor.

Fig; 11 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modified construction.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line |2-l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11, but illustrating another modified construction.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l4l4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line l5-l5 of Fig. 2.

Fi 16 is a sectional view taken on line Iii-I6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on line ll-l'l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary section as seen on line l8|8 of Fig. 16. 1 l

Referring now in detail to the drawing, l0 designates an addressing plateof usual construction as best seen in Fig. 5. The addressing plate 10 comprises a body ll made of sheet metal having inwardly turned end edges I2. Adjacent one side edge I 3 of the plate are a plurality of rows or sets of slots, there being three slots designated by numerals l4, I5 and min each row. The slots are spaced from one another and are parallel to edge [3. Adjacent each innermost slot I6 is a teator bump I1.

Detachably mounted on the plate In are a plurality of tabs or signal members 2|]. Each tab 20 has a narrow stem portion 2| which may be insertedthrough theslots 14,15 and IS in the manner shown in the drawing and the inner end of each stem portion 2| is provided with a perforation 2 la, into which a'teat I! may be yieldingly engaged. Each tab 20 also has a projecting portion 22 which extends beyond edge l3. It will now be understood that there may be as many tabs mounted on plate It] as there are sets of slots, and that said tabs may be parallel to one another.

openings d.

The tabs may be of different color or differently notched to indicate various intelligence, or to have different meaning in relation to the person, firm or corporation named on the plate. It has been found that these tabs often prove difficult to remove, particularly after they have been on the addressing plate for a long period. The present invention, therefore, comprises a machine 25 for quickly and easily removing the tabs 29 from the plate I0. Said machine 25 comprises a main box-like casing 2% which may be supported on legs 21'. Within the casing 26 is a drawer 28 to receive the tabs which are removed as will appear hereinafter. On top of the main casing 28 is a smaller casing 29 attached thereto in any suitable manner. Casing 29 may be provided with a removable cover 30 covering an opening at the front of said casing.

The casing 29 has a top wall 3! formed with a longitudinal slot 32. Attached to the top wall 3| are a pair of parallel bars 33 at right angles to and forming an H with the slot 32. Within the casing are parallel side walls 36 disposed beneath the bars 33. Walls 34 are attached to the bottom wall 35 of the top casing 29, by screws 35a. The bottom Wall has an opening above the drawer 28. Each wall 35 is formed with a hori zontal slot 39 and is formed with tongues 37 projecting into the slot.

Slidably mounted in slots 35 of walls 3% are horizontal bearing blocks 38 formed with grooves *39to receive the tongues 31. The bearing blocks 38 are formed with aligned bearing openings 4t. Screw 34a is provided to bind together and to the top wall 3!, parallel bars 33 and side walls 34. Extending from the blocks 38 are horizontal plungers 4!. Each of walls 340 is formed with a through opening 12 having a screw-threaded rear end portion 43. Screwed into the rear end portion 43 of each opening is a stop screw 44 provided with a lock nut 45. The plungers 4! project into openings 42-. interposed between the plungers M and the stop screws are coil compression springs 65. The springs 46 urge the bearing blocks 38 forwardly.

Mounted on andv between the bearing blocks 38 is a roller 55 having end shafts 5! received in the openings 65 in the bearing blocks. Attached to one end shaft is a gear 52 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Fixed within casing 29, and aligned with walls 34 are bearing blocks 531formedwith bearing Supported on and between the blocks 53, is a knurled roller 55. The roller 55 is formed with outwardly extending shafts 5S and 5? journalled in the bearings 54. On shaft 51 is a gear 58 meshing with gear 52. On the shaft 56 is a gear 88 meshing with a gear 6| on a drive shaft 62. Shaft 62 may be supported in any suitable bearing 63, and may be driven by a motor or any other suitable motive power. It

, will now be understood that drive shaft 62 will drive the roller 55, and through the gears 58, 52 will also drive the roller 59. The springs 46 cause the rollers to be pressed together.

The bars 33 are directly above the walls 34. The bars 33 are formed adjacent the slots 32 with notches or grooves 10. The grooves it each comprise a portion H of relatively greater width and having a tapered edge 72. Said portion 1! narrows as it goes downwardly. Said groove it! also comprises a portion 13 of lesser width and having an oppositely tapered 'surfaceifl terminating in a horizontal shoulder 75 at the wall 34. Plate 35 is formed with notches l6 communicating with the lower ends of groove portion H. The plates Iii are inserted into slots 32. The turned over edges 12 of the plates 10 are received in the groove portions Ill, whereas the portion of the plate is between the turned in edge portions passes through the slot 32. The plate can be inserted until the lower ends 12a of the turned over edges 52 strike shoulders 15. In such position the portions 22 of the tabs pass between the rollers. It will be noted that the rollers rotate in opposite directions, inwardly, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 10. Movement of the rollers will pull out the tabs 25 from plate H].

In Fig 11, there is shown a modified construction. In the devices shown in Fig. 11, there is substituted for the roller 55, a roller 80. Roller comprises a central shaft ill on which there is mounted annular discs 52 having annular knurled outer surfaces, The discs 82 are each formed with a radial through opening to receive a set screw 83 for fixing the disc to the shaft. The diameter of the discs 82 are the same as the diameter of roller 85. There may be also mounted on shaft 8i, rings 8t which may be fixed to the shaft by radial set screws 85. The width of the discs 82 and the rings 8 are the same, and the width of each is substantially the same as the distance between the center lines of adjacent sets of slots i i5, and [3. Thus, each disc 82 may engage one tab it. The rings 8 are placed where there are no tabs, or where it is not desired to remove a tab. The discs 82 and rings 86 are removable and may be arranged in any suitable assembly on shaft 8 I. With such construction, certain tabs may be removed and others may be allowed to remain on the addressing plates.

On shaft Bi is a gear 99 adapted to mesh with gear Si on shaft 52. On shaft 92 is a pulley 93 connected by belt 9 to any suitable drive. The ends of shaft 8! may be journalled in sliding adjustable bearing blocks 95 slidably mounted in plates 96 fixed'within casing 28. The bearing blocks $5 at the two ends of the rollers 81% may be interconnected by a handle 9? which may be used to pull the roller til away from roller 53.

In Fig. 13 is shown another modified construction. In accordance with this construction, there is substituted for shaft 85, a shaft [88 provided with a longitudinal key slot (iii. In the key slot ii}! is a longitudinal key 72. On shaft 500 are knurled discs 83 each having a knurled outer annular periphery. The discs I 33 are each formed with a central opening l M, to receive the shaft. Said discs arealso formed with longitudinal key slots Hi5 to' receive key 1512. Each disc IE3 is furthermore formed With a radial screwthreaded opening to receive a set screw it? adapted to press against the key N52 to fix the disc in place. Upon loosening the set screws, the discs may be moved to one side of the shaft when not in use. The shaft 189 may be supported for rotation in any suitable manner.

it will thus be seen that there is prcvided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions. of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

75" Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A machine for removing detachable tabs from an addressing plate comprising a casing formed with a slot, a pair of parallel contiguous rollers within the casing, said rollers being adapted to coact to grasp and pull the tabs inserted between them, said slot being located in a plane passing through the meeting line of said rollers, said slot being adapted to receive an addressing plate, means at the ends of the slot to guide the edges of the addressing plate, stop means to arrest movement of the addressing plate toward said rollers, one of said rollers having a knurled outer periphery, and means to rotate said rollers in opposite directions, and means to resiliently press said rollers toward each other.

2. A machine for removing detachable tabs from an addressing plate, comprising a pair of coacting parallel rollers for grasping and pulling tabs inserted between them, means to support one of said rollers for rotation, a pair of sliding bearing blocks formed with bearing openings, means on said other roller journalled in said bearing openings for rotatably supporting said second roller on said sliding blocks, resilient means for urging the second roller against the first roller, means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions, a casing for said rollers formed with a slot disposed above and in a plane passing through the meeting line of said rollers to receive an addressing plate, means for guiding the ends of said addressing plate as it is moved toward said rollers, and stop means to engage the lower edges of the moving plate to arrest its movement toward the rollers as the tabs are pulled.

- HARRY A. LEVEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 966,795 Canfield Aug. 9, 1910 1,114,478 Ibarra Oct. 20, 1914 1,231,797 Shelley July 3, 1917 1,472,964 Donnell Nov. 6, 1923 1,519,119 DeMeurisse Dec. 16, 1924 1,555,975 Hubard Oct. 6, 1925 1,651,456 Jensen Dec. 6, 1927 1,748,720 Lafferty Feb. 25, 1930 1,844,820 Morey Feb. 9, 1932 1,862,528 Dickman June 14, 1932 1,986,352 Moulton Jan. 1, 1935 2,016,101 Towne Oct. 1, 1935 2,039,600 Locke May 5, 1936 2,071,076 La Borde et al Feb. 16, 1937 2,084,097 Long June 15, 1937 2,087,315 Bugg July 20, 1937 

